The Traditional Religious Practitioners’ Association (TRPA), in Nigeria, has sued the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), to court for refusing to register the Association as a corporate entity to promote their faith.
The Association had in June 2022, applied to CAC online to be registered but the Commission in a letter dated July 11, 2022, turned down the request on the grounds that the TRPA’s mode of worship and practices are not publicly available”.
“The CAC regrets to inform you that it was unable to approve any of the names(s) submitted for approval the name is not registrable as their forms of worship and practices are not publicly available.”
Resolving to pursue the matter legally, the TRPA through their legal counsel, Obi K. Odo filed a case before a Federal High Court sitting in Enugu state with suit no. Suit No FHC/EN/CS/140/2022.
The Association argues that CAC by refusing them on the grounds of their mode of religious worship, have discriminated against the Association contrary to the provision of section 42 of the 1999 constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria.
“Other religious groups have been incorporated by the defendants but chose to deny us just because we are traditional worshippers. There is no other way to convince the defendants to go ahead and incorporate us as the Board of Trustee of the Association except by the intervention of this court,” TRPA’ petition read partly.
Registered religious Bodies in Nigeria include; the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).
The Association is praying the court to declare that the CAC’s refusal is an infringement on their right to freedom of religion/worship and discriminatory contrary to the 1999 constitution as amended.
Co -defendants in the suit are the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Attorney General and Minister of Justice.
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